Introduction to Endocrine System

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Dr Vaishali Paunikar
Department of Physiology,
JNMC,DMIMS(DU)
 Competency
• DPY 8.1
• Describe introduction to endocrine system

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Specific learning Objectives
At the end of class, the student will be able to:

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• Define Hormone & its types
• Understand regulation of hormone secretion
• Explain mechanism of action of hormones
 INTRODUCTION

• Endocrinology is a branch of Physiology that deals with processes

involved in regulation & integration of cells & organ systems by

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specialized chemical substances called hormones.
 HORMONE

• A hormone is a chemical messenger secreted in small

amounts into circulating blood by endocrine glands (ductless

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glands) or specialized tissue cells and exert their precise
effects on target cells in the body.
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 Major endocrine glands & their hormones
ENDOCRINE GLAND HORMONE
HYPOTHALAMUS RELEASING HORMONES
POSTERIOR PITUITARY 1. ADH
 2. OXYTOCIN
ANTERIOR PITUITARY 1. hGH

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 2. Prolactin
 3. TSH
 4. ACTH
 5. FSH
 6. LH

THYROID GLAND 1. T3
2. T4
3. CALCITONIN
PARATHYROID GLANDS PTH
Major endocrine glands & their hormones
ENDOCRINE GLAND HORMONE
THYMUS THYMOSIN
PANCREAS – ISLETS OF 1. Beta – cells: INSULIN
LANGERHANS 2. Alpha – cells: GLUCAGON
3. Delta cells: SOMATOSTATIN

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ADRENAL CORTEX 1. CORTISOL
 2. ALDOSTERONE
 3. SEX STEROIDS
TESTES TESTOSTERONE

OVARIES 1. ESTROGEN
2. PROGESTERONE 
PINEAL GLAND MELATONIN
Other endocrine organs & their hormones

• Heart – Atrial natriuretic peptide

• GIT – Cholecystokinin-pancreozymin(CCK-PZ),
Secretin, Vasointestinal peptide (VIP)

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• Kidney – 1,25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol(1,25 DHCC)
erythropoeitin, renin
• Skin – Calciferol
• Placenta – hcG, progesterone, estrogen
• Liver – Insulin-like growth factors (IGF-I & II)
 Types of hormones
• Divided into 3 major classes:
1. Steroids/Lipid-Soluble Hormones

Glucocorticoids

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Mineralocorticoids

Calcitriol (1,25 DHCC)

Testosterone

Estrogen

Progesterone
 Types of hormones

2.Proteins & polypeptides/Water soluble hormones

Anterior & posterior pituitary hormones

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Hypothalamic hormones
Parathyroid hormone
Insulin,Glucagon,Somatostatin
Pancreatic polypeptide
Calcitonin
Gastrin, Secretin
Angiotensin
 Types of hormones

3. Amino acid derivatives

Epinephrine
Nor-epinephrine

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T3
T4
 Receptors
• Interact via receptors i.e specific binding sites for specific
hormone.
• 2000-1,00,000 receptor molecules per target cell.

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• Location :
• On the plasma membrane
• Intracellular: In cell cytoplasm
In cell nucleus
 Patterns of Hormone action

Target cells :
Specific cells affected by a hormone.
• Endocrine:

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Circulated by blood to target cells.
• Paracrine:
Affect neighboring cells.
• Autocrine:
• Act on cells that secrete them.
 Regulation of receptors

The no. of receptors on target cells & affinity of receptor to hormone

can be increased or decreased.

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Down-regulation:
Decrease in target cell receptors when excessive hormone is
present.

Up-regulation:
Increase in target cell receptors when there is a deficiency of
hormone.
 Hormone Interactions

Synergistic effect:
Two hormones acting together have a greater or more
extensive effect.

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Antagonistic effect:
One hormone opposes the action of another hormone.

Permissive effect:
Presence of one hormone is required for another
hormone to exert its full effect on target cells.
 Action of Hypothalamus as
the “Master” Gland

• Hypothalamus:
Controls the activity of pituitary gland

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by releasing hormones called
releasing or inhibiting hormones.
 Feedback regulation of hormone secretion

A prominent feature of each of the hormonal sequences initiated

by the hypothalamic releasing hormones is negative feedback

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exerted upon the hypothalamic-pituitary system by the hormones
whose production are stimulated in the sequence.
Feedback regulation of hormonal secretion

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Feedback control

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 Mechanism of action of hormones

General principles :
• Hormone receptors found on target cell membrane are termed

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external receptors; and those within cytoplasm & nucleus are
termed internal receptors.
• Polypeptide hormones bind to receptors on outer cell surface.
• Steroids bind to receptors in cytoplasm.
• Thyroid hormones combine with nuclear receptors.
Mechanism of action of lipid-soluble hormones
like steroids & thyroid hormones

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 Mechanism of action of polypeptide/
water-soluble hormones
• Via 2nd messenger pathway.

• cAMP as second messenger.

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 Second Messenger Systems

1. Adenylyl cyclase-cAMP system

2. Guanyl cyclase-cGMP system

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3. Cell membrane Phospholipase-Phospholipid system
4. Ca++ calmodulin system
 Role of cAMP

• cAMP acts as second messenger which transmits the signal and

may bring about different functions in target cells like:

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1. Change in membrane permeability.
2. Activation/inactivation of rate limiting enzymes.
3. Increased/decreased protein synthesis by action on ribosomes.
4. Regulation of release of hormones from endocrine gland.
 Hormones acting via adenylyl cyclase-
cAMP 2nd messenger system
Catecholamines (beta –receptors) Proteins/polypeptide hormones
- ACTH
- Epinephrine
- CRH

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- Norepinephrine - FSH
- LH
- hcG
- PTH
- TSH
- Glucagon
- Somatostatin
- Secretin
- ADH(V2 receptors)
Hormones acting via guanyl cyclase -
cGMP 2nd messenger system
• Atrial natriuretic peptide
• Nitric oxide

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Phosphotidyl-inositol
2nd messenger system

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 Hormones that use Phospholipase C
Second Messenger System

• GnRH
• Oxytocin

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• TRH
• Catecholamines(α-receptors)
• ADH (V1 receptors)
Calcium - Calmodulin 2nd messenger system
Hormone receptor complex

Opens calcium channels

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Calcium entry into the cell

Binding with calmodulin

Confirmational change

Activates calmodulin dependent protein kinases

Phosphorylation of proteins

Multiple effects
Hormones that use Calcium-Calmodulin
Second Messenger System

• GHRH
• Insulin

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• Angiotensin II (vascular smooth muscles)
Summary

• Hormone & its types

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• Regulation of hormone secretion

• Mechanism of action of hormones

Expected Questions
• Enumerate various types of hormones based on their composition.

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• Describe mechanism of action of different hormones.
References

• Guyton & Hall ( 12th Edition)

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• AK Jain ( 4th Edition) vol I
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THANK YOU